Method for processing the busyness of flexible alert group with multi-user type

ABSTRACT

A method for processing the busyness of flexible alert group with multi-user type, the method comprises: a caller dials a guiding number of Flexible Alert (FA), and the calling is connected to an application server, the application server acquires member numbers of the FA group based on the guiding number, and establishes the callings to each member in the FA group; when one member in the FA group returns a busyness message, if the FA is of the multi-user type, the application server continues waiting for the response from other members in the FA group; and if one member in the FA group hooks off and answers, the application server establishes a session from the caller to the member that hooks off and answers, and releases all the callings to the other members in the FA group; if all the members in the FA group return busyness messages, the application server returns FA group being busy to the caller. In the present invention, the processing of busyness of FA group with multi-user type is achieved by means of AS, the interaction and the process flow are simplified, and the efficiency for processing the busyness of FA group with multi-user type is increased, thus the user&#39;s experience is improved.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to communication field, in particular to amethod for processing the busyness of a flexible alert (FA) group withmulti-user type in an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS).

BACKGROUND

Flexible alert (FA) is a service for prompting a user group which has aguiding number and one or more member numbers. When the guiding numberis dialed, the calling will be connected to each member and all themembers receive alert simultaneously. When one member hooks off andanswers the phone, a session will be established between the caller andthe member, the rest of the calling branches will be released.

FA can be classified into two types, namely, single-user type andmulti-user type. In a single-user type FA, when one member is busy, theFA group is busy, while in a multi-user type FA, the FA group is busyonly when all the members are busy.

In prior art, whether a FA group is busy or not is determined by thehome location register (HLR), the network architecture of which is shownin FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the user equipments (UE) (101, 107) areuser terminals representing the caller or one member of FA. BTS/BSC(102, 106) are base station and base station controller, MSC/VLR (103,105) are mobile switched center/visited location register, and HLR (104)is a home location register.

FIG. 2 shows a processing flow of the busyness of flexible alert (FA)group with multi-user type in prior art. As shown in FIG. 2, HLR sendsroute requests to the serving MSC of each member of FA (203/205) whenreceiving a location request from the calling MSC (202). If the user isidle, the serving MSC returns a temporary location digit number (TLDN)(204). If the user is busy, the serving MSC returns the user is busy(206). Then the HLR returns the TLDN1 of UE1 to the calling MSC becausethe FA is multi-user type (207). At last, the calling MSC initiates theestablishment of a calling to TLDN1 to the serving MSC (208).

Based on demand, FA needs to be implemented in a IP media sub-system(IMS). The network structure of IMS is shown in FIG. 3. The UE (301)represents a user equipment involving a calling, which can be a callingequipment or a called equipment. P-CSCF (302) represents proxy-callsession control function, it is the session entrance point where a UE isaccessed to the IMS network, and is responsible for forwarding thesession between a UE and the network. S-CSCF (303) representsserving-call session control function; it is responsible for handlingthe session request from a UE and performing the initial filtering rule.AS (304) is an application server and responsible for providing serviceof a UE, such as processing FA service.

In the prior art IMS standards, the problem existed in realizing FA isthat no status information representing user busyness is stored innetwork, thus it cannot be realized to determine directly that a user isbusy. Generally, user busyness is determined by a terminal. When a userreceives a new session request, if the user is in another session orprocessing other services, the user returns information of user busynessto the network. For a multi-user type FA, it is only possible of thenetwork to determine that the FA group is busy when all members returninformation of user busyness. In addition, it is apparent from abovedescription that the interaction for processing the busyness of a FAgroup with multi-user type via HLR is extraordinary complex, thusresulting in low efficiency in the process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is made considering above problem in the priorart, and provides a method for processing busyness of a flexible alert(FA) group with multi-user type, wherein application server (AS) nothome location register (HLR) processes busyness of FA group withmulti-user type.

The method for processing busyness of FA group with multi-user typeaccording to the present invention comprises: a caller dials a guidingnumber of Flexible Alert, FA, and the calling is connected to anapplication server, the application server acquires member numbers ofthe FA group based on the guiding number, and establishes the callingsto each member in the FA group; when one member in the FA group returnsa busyness message, if the FA is of the multi-user type, the applicationserver continues waiting for the response from other members in the FAgroup; and if one member in the FA group hooks off and answers, theapplication server establishes a session from the caller to the memberthat hooks off and answers, and releases all the callings to the othermembers in the FA group; if all the members in the FA group returnbusyness messages, the application server returns FA group being busy tothe caller.

Wherein, the process that the calling is connected to the applicationserver further comprises: the calling is connected to the Serving-CallSession Control Function (S-CSCF) to which the guiding number belongs;and the S-CSCF forwards the session request to the application serverwhich processes FA service according to a filter.

The process that the application server acquires member numbers of theFA group based on the guiding number, and establishes the callings toeach member in the FA group further comprises: the application serverjudges the calling is a FA calling, inquires a member list of the FAgroup, and acquires the member numbers of the FA group; and theapplication server sends calling request to all the members in the FAgroup via the S-CSCF and Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF).

In particular, the application server can simultaneously send thecalling request to all the members in the FA group.

In addition, the process that one or more members in the FA group returnbusyness message is: one or more members in the FA group return thebusyness message to the application server via the P-CSCF and theS-CSCF. The process that one or more members in the FA group returnoff-hook and answering comprises: one or more members in the FA groupreturn the off-hook and answering to the application server via theP-CSCF and the S-CSCF.

In the present invention, the processing of busyness of FA group withmulti-user type is achieved by means of AS, the interaction and theprocess flow are simplified, and the efficiency for processing thebusyness of FA group with multi-user type is increased, thus the user'sexperience is improved.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will beillustrated in the following specification, and partly apparent from thespecification or appreciated through implementing the present invention.The purpose of the present invention and other advantages can beachieved through the structure specified in the specification, claimsand drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings provide a further understanding to the present inventionand form a part of the specification, as well as explain the presentinvention together with the embodiments. However, the drawings do notlimit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the circuit domain frame offlexible alert (FA) according to prior art.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing of multi-user typebusyness based on home location register (HLR) according to prior art.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the reference frame of IPmultimedia subsystem (IMS) of FA according to prior art.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the method for processing the busyness ofmulti-user FA group according to the embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed flow chart showing an application server (AS)-basedprocess example of the method of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described inconnection with the drawings. It shall be understood that the preferredembodiments described herein is provided for illustrating and explainingthe present invention not for limiting the present invention.

According the embodiments of the present invention, a method forprocessing the busyness of a flexible alert (FA) group with multi-usertype is provided; the method is based on an application server (AS).

Preferably, the present invention is implemented under theabove-mentioned IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) architecture. As shown inFIG. 3, P-CSCF is the session entrance point where a UE is accessed tothe IMS network, and is responsible for forwarding the session between aUE and the network; S-CSCF is responsible for handling the sessionrequest from a UE and performing the initial filtering rule; AS isresponsible for providing service of a UE/UEs, such as processing FAservice.

Based on the aforesaid IMS architecture, as shown in FIG. 4, the methodfor processing the busyness of FA group with multi-user type comprises:

Step S402, a caller dials a guiding number of FA, and the calling isconnected to an AS, the AS acquires member numbers of the FA group basedon the guiding number, and establishes the callings to each member inthe FA group; Step S404, when one member in the FA group returns abusyness message, if the FA is of the multi-user type, the AS continueswaiting for the response from other members in the FA group; Step S406,if one member in the FA group hooks off and answers, the AS establishesa session from the caller to the member that hooks off and answers, andreleases all the callings to the other members in the FA group; if allthe members in the FA group return busyness messages, the AS returns FAgroup being busy to the caller.

Wherein, in Step S402, the process that the calling is connected to theAS further comprises: the calling is connected to the S-CSCF to whichthe guiding number belongs; and the S-CSCF forwards the session requestto the AS which processes FA service according to a filter.

Further, in Step S402, the process that the AS acquires member numbersof the FA group based on the guiding number, and establishes thecallings to each member in the FA group further comprises: the AS judgesthe calling is a FA calling, inquires a member list of the FA group, andacquires the member numbers of the FA group; and the AS sends callingrequest to all the members in the FA group via the S-CSCF and theP-CSCF. In particular, the AS can simultaneously send the callingrequest to all the members in the FA group.

Correspondingly, the process that one or more members in the FA groupreturn busyness message is: one or more members in the FA group returnthe busyness message to the AS via the P-CSCF and the S-CSCF. Theprocess that one or more members in the FA group return off-hook andanswering comprises: one or more members in the FA group return theoff-hook and answering to the AS via the P-CSCF and the S-CSCF.

The method for processing the busyness of FA group with multi-user typeaccording to the present invention will be described in connection withan example.

EXAMPLE

In the example, it is assumed that the FA group has two members UE1 andUE2, the caller is UE3, the FA group is of multi-user type, the FA groupis busy only when all the members are busy, and the callings will bereleased.

As shown in FIG. 5, detailed processes are given hereafter:

Step 501-502, the caller UE3 initiating a calling by dialing the guidingnumber, the calling is connected to the S-CSCF to which the guidingnumber belongs, and the S-CSCF forwards the session request to the ASwhich processes FA service according to a filter;

Step 503-506, the AS judges the calling is a FA calling, inquires amember list of the FA group, selects the first member UE1, and sendssession request to UE1; the session request is forwarded to UE1 viaS-CSCF and P-CSCF;

Step 507-511, UE1 receives the request and returns an alert responsewhich will be returned along the initial path for the session and willbe delivered to UE3;

Step 512-514, AS initiates a session request to the second member UE2(the step can be simultaneously processed with Step 503-511);

Step 515-520, UE2 returns user being busy, the AS returns confirmationfor user being busy to UE2;

Step 521-531, if the FA group is of multi-user type, the AS continueswaiting for the response from other members. When UE1 hooks off andanswers, a session to the caller will be established. If there is anyother branch which is establishing calling, all session relating tothese branches will be released;

Step 532-536, if all of the users returns busyness, the AS returnsbusyness to the caller and ends the session.

Although the above example is described in the instance that the FAgroup comprises 2 members, the present invention is applicable to theinstance that the FA group comprising one or more members, in theprocess of which, when one member responses, the AS establishes acalling, and then releases the calling establishment to other members.

It is noted that the example of the present invention comprises onlymember user of the IMS, but the present invention is applicable to thecircumstance that the FA group comprises other users, such as PSTNusers, MSC users, etc.

Above description is to illustrate the preferred embodiments not limitthe present invention. Various alterations and changes to the presentinvention are apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope defined inclaims shall comprise any modification, equivalent substitution andimprovement in the spirit and principle of the present invention.

1. A method for processing the busyness of flexible alert group withmulti-user type, wherein, the method comprises: a caller dials a guidingnumber of Flexible Alert (FA), and the calling is connected to anapplication server, the said application server acquires member numbersof the FA group based on the said guiding number, and establishes thecallings to each member in the said FA group; when one member in thesaid FA group returns a busyness message, if the said FA is of themulti-user type, the said application server continues waiting for theresponse from other members in the said FA group; and if one member inthe said FA group hooks off and answers, the said application serverestablishes a session from the said caller to the member that hooks offand answers, and releases all the callings to the other members in thesaid FA group; if all the members in the said FA group return busynessmessages, the said application server returns FA group being busy to thesaid caller; wherein the process that the said calling is connected tothe said application server further comprises: the calling is connectedto the Serving-Call Session Control Function, S-CSCF, to which theguiding number belongs; and the said S-CSCF forwards the session requestto the said application server which processes FA service according to afilter.
 2. The method for processing the busyness of flexible alertgroup with multi-user type according to claim 1, wherein, the processthat the said application server acquires member numbers of the FA groupbased on the said guiding number, and establishes the callings to eachmember in the said FA group further comprises: the said applicationserver judges the calling is a FA calling, and inquires a member list ofthe said FA group, and acquires the member numbers of the said FA group;and the said application server sends calling request to all the membersin the said FA group via the said S-CSCF and Proxy-Call Session ControlFunction, P-CSCF.
 3. The method for processing the busyness of flexiblealert group with multi-user type according to claim 2, wherein, the saidapplication server simultaneously sends the said calling request to allthe members in the said FA group.
 4. The method for processing thebusyness of flexible alert group with multi-user type according to claim2, wherein, the process that one or more members in the said FA groupreturn busyness message is: one or more members in the said FA groupreturn the said busyness message to the said application server via thesaid P-CSCF and the said S-CSCF.
 5. The method for processing thebusyness of flexible alert group with multi-user type according to claim2, wherein, the process that one or more members in the said FA groupreturn off-hook and answering comprises: one or more members in the FAgroup return the said off-hook and answering to the said applicationserver via the said P-CSCF and the said S-CSCF.